CAR dealer Lookers today unveiled plans for a L20m investment programme which will create 200 jobs in the north west.

Fred Maguire, the Stretford-based group's executive chairman, said new showrooms are earmarked for Oldham, Chester and Liverpool, where a L250,000 customer call centre will also be developed.

In addition, the firm is to spend L10m on expanding its Belfast operations.

The developments are separate to the 30-month, L40m refurbishment and new-build programme which is in its final phase.

Mr Maguire announced details of the fresh spending spree as he reported Lookers' results for the year 2000.

Profits were L6.5m on turnover of L582.5m. The final dividend is 6p, taking the total for the year to 8.6p. The previous set of results covered 15 months from October 1998 to December 1999 as the firm's financial year was altered. During that period, Lookers made profits of L6.4m on L652.5m turnover.

Sales of new cars during 2000 rose by 26 per cent during a difficult period for the motor trade which saw prices forced down by the government in the wake of consumer campaigns. Other factors such as the fuel crisis also hit dealers.

Nationally, the market for new cars grew by just 1.1 per cent.

Lookers sold 27,000 new cars and 31,000 used vehicles last year, said Mr Maguire.

But it suffered a squeeze on margins of between 10 and 20 per cent.

Best-performing dealerships were those selling Audi, Land Rover and Mercedes Benz vehicles. Lookers added 18 outlets to the group in 2000 at a cost of almost L13m. They added L36m of sales.

Confidence is now returning to the new car market and Lookers has notched five consecutive months of growth.

A strong March is expected with the last change of the present registration system, he said.

He anticipates similar growth in September with the introduction of the new plate system.

The firm's strategy of seeking to "win customers for life" through heavy investment in after-sales service appears to be paying off.